Free country music comes to downtown Mount Clemens

A new free outdoor country music series made its debut in the heart of downtown Mount Clemens on Wednesday night.

Titled Nashville in the Neighborhood, the six-date series is presented by WYCD-FM (99.5) with financial support from several sponsors. The radio station, which also presents the Downtown Hoedown in Detroit, rolled out a brand new stage for the bands to perform on.

"As is always the case with WYCD, we like to spread country music around the area," said WYCD Program Director Tim Roberts. "We are a big believer in the local music scene here in Detroit. And we love your downtown; this is a perfect area to present free music for our listeners."

Nashville in the Neighborhood replaces the long-running Bud Light River Sight and Sound concert series that Petitpren Inc. brought to the banks of the Clinton River since 1987.

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Petitpren started a free outdoor music series initially as a lunch-hour series in the downtown area and later moved over to a riverfront stage for Friday night shows. A number of business owners recently asked the Budweiser distributor to move the concerts back to the downtown district. That's when the decision was made to launch a new country music series featuring up-and-coming acts.

Wednesday's debut show featured Alabama singer Weston Burt, with his hit "Lucky Sometimes." The opener was singer-songwriter David Shelby, a Clinton Township native, performing songs from his new record on Highway South Records, "Rust Belt Cowboy."

The concerts are held on Macomb Place near the Anton Art Center. On Wednesday night, people sat on the patios at John Barleycorn's and Orleans Billiards to enjoy the music, while others brought their own lawn chairs. A number of tailgate parties were underway in the nearby municipal parking lot.

Fans gave the series a thumbs-up.

"I am obsessed with country music," said Dana DiPiazza, 20, of Harrison Township, who attended the event with her friend, Courtney Priemer, also 20.

The series is sponsored by Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority, Bud Light, Tim Horton's, Oakland University and Mike Riehl Roseville Chrysler Jeep.

"We really want to be embrace Mount Clemens and be part of the community," said Julie Trube, OU's director of enrollment and community outreach.

Roberts, the program director, said the series will focus on up-and-coming acts that are about to take the next step up to stardom.

"At the Hoedown, we've had artists like Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean before anyone knew who they were, We had the Band Perry for a Tigers opener a few years ago and look at how well they've done. We don't bring in anyone we don't believe in," Roberts said.

Future shows will feature country music line dancers and other attractions. The series dates are May 22; June 5; July 10; Aug. 7; and Sept. 11. For more information, visit www.downtownmountclemens.com.